Foraging Workshop and Balsam Bash in Mottram

Are you looking to reconnect with nature having spent too much time inside?Are you having a rethink about your impact on the natural world?M﻿aybe you want to try to source food from somewhere other than your local supermarket?Or are you just a food-lover who wants to try new and unique flavours?This is your chance - find out what delicious wild food grows in typical UK countryside and learn how to forage for yourself!Head towww.foragebox.co.uk/workshopsto browse all available sessions.

Forage Box

A 4-hour session combining the community-led control of invasive species, Himalayan Balsam, plus discounted foraging tuition with an expert!

Mottram Hall

Balsam Bash x Foraging Events

A 4-hour session combining the community-led control of invasive species, Himalayan Balsam, plus discounted foraging tuition with an expert! PLUS wild refreshments for all those doing their bit!

<h3>This is your chance to do your bit for the control of Himalayan Balsam and in reward for your hard work, you get a massively discounted foraging tuition added to the day!</h3>Every year Bollin Valley Partnership and the BEACON (Bollin Environmental Action and Conservation) run a campaign to control the invasive species Himalayan Balsam. This non-native plant is highly invasive, taking over the sandy banks of the River Bollin and beyond. But there is a way to keep it under control! Every summer, armies of volunteers gather to pull out as many of these pesky plants as they can before it has the chance to go to seed.This year, Forage Box has teamed up with the Bollin Valley Partnership and BEACON in a hope to provide some extra incentive to those who want to give nature a helping hand. We are proud to offer a foraging taster session to all those attending the 'Balsam Bash' at a heavily discounted rate, in order to inspire everyone to get stuck in and reconnect with their natural surroundings.So, whether you are part of a local community group, a nearby school or just an individual looking to do a good deed, this is your chance to get stuck in to making a real difference, with the added incentive of a foraging session with an expert!<h3></h3><h3>E﻿vent sold out or can't make this date? Head to <a href="https://www.foragebox.co.uk/workshops" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.foragebox.co.uk/workshops</a> to browse all available sessions.</h3>

This course is designed to get you as involved as possible - this includes identifying, picking and tasting a range of wild species that will be found on the day. There will also be lots of samples of food and drink for everyone to get stuck into! The focus with all of our workshops is on the 4 'F's of Foraging: Fungi, Fruit, Flowers and Foliage. We aim for an array of these elements on every session we run (weather and season permitting!)We like to keep some elements a surprise for the day, but here is what you can expect from your Balsam Bash and Foraging Workshop:<ul><li>a brief introduction outlining foraging tips, ethics, etiquette and law PLUS discussion on the impact of Himalayan Balsam to the British countryside.</li></ul><ul><li>a closer look at edible wild plants and any poisonous lookalikes by a professional forager.</li></ul><ul><li>small tasters of wild food, drink and preserves. These may include syrups, salts, jams, soup and even freshly-picked items straight from the hedgerow!</li></ul><ul><li>the opportunity to hand-pick and taste seasonal wild ingredients.</li></ul><ul><li>a chance to contribute to the control of Himalayan Balsam in community spaces that really need it. </li></ul><ul><li>Wild-inspired refreshments for all those helping out (please contact us with any dietary requirements)</li></ul><ul><li>Plus the enormous sense of pride and satisfaction from helping the British countryside with a like-minded community!</li></ul>

Children? Yes! Reduced ticket prices are available for children aged 5-18. Infants under 5 are free. All children must be accompanied by their responsible adult. There is a maximum of 2 children per one adult.D﻿ogs? Yes! Providing they are on the lead at all times and do not affect the enjoyment of others (e.g. excessive barking or jumping up). In some instances, I may bring my own, well-behaved labrador along, but she is a lover of people and sticks and would be no trouble to anyone - please get in touch if you would prefer a dog-free event and we can try to make arrangements.Mobility? Expect to be on your feet for the vast majority of this session. The walking route is 2-3km with some slippy steps, inclines and banks but mainly on footpaths. Our foraging workshops can be tailored to suit certain mobility requirements. Please do get in touch in advance of buying your tickets to discuss this further. Vouchers? All of our vouchers can be redeemed for this session, but please note that the difference in price may need to be paid at the checkout (e.g. a Taster Workshop voucher worth £20 would require another £15 of payment by the attendee in order to attend an Intro Workshop session worth £35)Dietary requirements? It is vital that you inform us of any dietary requirements at least a week before the event - changes are very difficult to make on the day and you may end up going hungry if you haven't told us about something you can't eat!What to bring:<ul><li>Walking boots or wellies</li><li>Gardening gloves or similar</li><li>Weather-appropriate clothes, including a waterproof coat and extra layers (trousers and long sleeves recommended due to stinging nettles!)</li><li>Hand sanitizer</li><li>Bottle of water</li><li>P﻿roof of ticket purchase - electronic is perfect, so save your printer paper!</li><li>Foraging basket (optional)</li><li>A snack to keep you going (optional) and we also recommend having a big breakfast beforehand!</li></ul>Parking and Meeting Point:<ul><li>Attendees are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the destination. </li><li>Parking can be limited at the golf club, but there is space for some vehicles. Please park at the back of the car park near our meeting point if possible.<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/MWxzwrP1PegAgJh58" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a></li><li>Please be considerate when leaving your car and do not block gates or access for other traffic. </li><li>P﻿lease arrive well in time for the start of the workshop - we don't tend to wait for late-comers on such events.</li><li>S﻿ignage can sometimes be limited, so keep an eye out for anyone with a foraging basket!</li><li>O﻿ur exact meeting point is at the back of the car park, a precise pin for which can be found here: <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/K6dJKjFZ2S5rq8SbA" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://goo.gl/maps/K6dJKjFZ2S5rq8SbA</a></li></ul>

<h3>Cancellation and Other Relevant Information (Compulsory Reading)</h3>W﻿e operate a &#x27;2 strikes&#x27; rule for those not following the safety instructions issued at the start of the session. Most notably, those eating wild food found on the day when not specifically instructed to do so will be given one warning - should another breach of the safety brief be committed, the offending attendee(s) will be dismissed from the workshop with no subsequent warning or refund. By purchasing tickets, you agree to this policy.W﻿hilst extreme care and supervision will be in place on the day to ensure that everyone remains safe, the consumption of wild food is done so entirely at the risk of the individual workshop attendee. Occasional adverse reactions may occur when trying new foods. All foods served and prepared on the day will have been consumed many, many times before by other workshops attendees and are considered 100% safe for human consumption. That is the entire point of foraging, of course: to open our minds and palettes to what amazing, delicious food there is to be found in nature and not wrapped in plastic down a supermarket aisle!Forage Box will only cancel the event in the case of an extreme weather warning being issued by the Met Office. This generally tends to be wind-related only - rain, sun or snow will not be sufficient to cancel! Should this be the case, the event will likely be postponed to the next available date, but refunds or ticket transfers will also be an option for those unable to attend the new date.Our courses are organised with your safety as the top priority, and will follow any current government rules or guidance in place at the time of the course. If the course has to be cancelled for any reason, a full refund will be issued to all ticket holders.PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND THIS COURSE IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU ARE LIVING WITH SHOWS ANY FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. The safety of our tutors and course attendees is paramount - please do not take risks.These courses are run by Forage Box Ltd. Visit us at <a href="https://www.forage-box.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.foragebox.co.uk</a> or follow us <a href="https://www.instagram.com/foragebox/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@foragebox</a>I﻿mages are owned by Forage Box or kindly donated by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/karenhermanwright/?hl=en" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Karen Herman Wright</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elesuggett/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ele Suggett</a>Always wild. Always sustainable. Always delicious.

Foraging Workshop and Balsam Bash in Mottram

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Foraging Workshop and Balsam Bash in Mottram

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